July 5, 1999
(Municipal and Provincial Affairs)

Delegation returns from France

Lloyd Matthews, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, recently led a delegation of Newfoundland war veterans and students on a five-day visit of Newfoundland and Canadian War Memorials in France and Belgium.

Veterans participating in the trip include Beatrice Priddle of Carbonear, Frank Day of Corner Brook, and Andy English and Charlie Moore of St. John's. They were accompanied by Rex Babstock, president of the Royal Canadian Legion in Newfoundland and Labrador. The students, who were winners of a poetry, essay, and poster contest sponsored by the Legion, include Inga Smith of Clarenville, Gina Nichols of Botwood, and Chris Mayo and Emily Chiu of St. John's. The students were accompanied by chaperone Ian Sparkes, a teacher at Booth Memorial High School.

The highlight of the trip was a wreath-laying ceremony and service held annually at Beaumont Hamel on July 1 to honour the memory of soldiers of the Newfoundland Regiment that lost their lives in battle on July 1, 1916. Close to 300 people attended this year's ceremony. The trip was sponsored by the provincial government in conjunction with Soiree '99.

The delegation will arrive in St. John's on Air Canada flight 861 at 2:00 p.m. today. A briefing on the trip will be provided in the arrivals area. Media representatives are invited to attend.

Media contact: Anita Symonds, Communications, (709) 729-3142.

1999 07 05         11:15 a.m.